What is the difference between Roam Research and Capacities?

Roam Research is best for Researchers and writers who think in networks, while Capacities is best for Users wanting object-based note-taking with structure. Roam Research starts at $15/mo and Capacities starts at Free.

Is Roam Research or Capacities cheaper?

Roam Research starts at $15/mo. Capacities starts at Free with a free tier.

Is there a free alternative to Roam Research?

Yes, Capacities offers a free tier (Free for personal use).

Roam Research vs Capacities

Roam Research is networked note-taking tool with bidirectional links and graph-based knowledge management, while Capacities is note-taking app built around objects and types instead of pages and folders. The biggest difference up front: Capacities is free, while Roam Research starts at $15/mo. Roam Research is built for researchers and writers who think in networks, whereas Capacities targets users wanting object-based note-taking with structure.

At a glance

	Roam Research	Capacities
Best for	Researchers and writers who think in networks	Users wanting object-based note-taking with structure
Starting price	$15/mo	Free
Free tier	—	✓
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	—	✓
Open source	—	—
Backlinks	✓	—
Block References	✓	—
Daily Notes	✓	✓
Graph View	✓	—
Object-Based	—	✓
Relations	—	✓
Tags	—	✓

Roam Research

Strengths

Backlinks let you build a connected knowledge graph from your notes
Includes Graph View as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
Pricing starts at $15/mo, which includes the full note taking feature set
Includes daily notes alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

Starts at $15/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Moving notes out to another platform can be difficult — export options vary
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Roam Research → Full review

Capacities

Strengths

Object-based canvas treats every element as a manipulable node for precise control
Includes Daily Notes as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
Free for personal use — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Includes relations alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Moving notes out to another platform can be difficult — export options vary
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Capacities → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Capacities is completely free (Free for personal use), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Roam Research starts at $15/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: Roam Research offers Backlinks, Block References and Graph View that Capacities lacks. Capacities brings Object-Based, Relations and Tags that Roam Research does not have. Both share Daily Notes.

Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Where each tool shines: Roam Research's biggest strengths are: backlinks let you build a connected knowledge graph from your notes. includes graph view as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows. Capacities's biggest strengths are: object-based canvas treats every element as a manipulable node for precise control. includes daily notes as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows.

Watch out for: With Roam Research, users commonly note that starts at $15/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users. With Capacities, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose Roam Research if...

You need a tool built for researchers and writers who think in networks
You specifically need Backlinks and Block References
You care about includes graph view as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows

Choose Capacities if...

You need a tool built for users wanting object-based note-taking with structure
Budget is a hard constraint — Capacities is free, Roam Research is not
You specifically need Object-Based and Relations
You care about includes daily notes as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
The free tier works for you: free for personal use